ELEANOR & PARK Paperback – 28 February 2013

“Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don't really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren't really an ending; some things are never-ending.”----C. JoyBell C.Rainbow Rowell, an American best-selling author, has penned a tear-jerking yet heart-warming tale about young, first love in her book, Eleanor & Park that narrates the story of two teenagers- a red-headed girl and an Asian boy slowly, silently falling for one another everyday on their way to school but this story is so much more than just a teenage love story, it harbors the insecurities and fear of losing one another, especially the limitless option to unconditional first love without any judgement.Synopsis:Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor... never to Eleanor.Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.Well, I hope I'm not the last one to experience the sweet yet heart-breaking torture of Eleanor & Park . Yes I know the climax bothered me a lot and probably it bothered millions of readers before me. I mean why did the author had to play with our emotions? But since I'm a positive person, I would like to think of a new beginning for Eleanor & Park's love story. Not a happy ending perhaps a happy beginning.Eleanor is the imperfect red-hair newbie teenage girl to the town where Park, the half- Korean teenage boy, lives with his adorable family. They are not neighbors but they share the back seat of their school bus, and that is where the seed of their love was first sowed with the help of action comics read by Park, but surprisingly with no words exchanged between them. The next part is easy, as these two imperfect souls fall for one another. Well it seems they are not lucky as their love is threatened by some mean students and not to mention, there is a wicked character, whom you might want to kill with your bare hands, by pulling the character out of the pages of this book, who will finally put a flame to their love story. Rest is for you to find out!I'm already accustomed to the author's writing style as Fangirl made me fall for this author for the very first time. The author's writing style is articulate and easy to comprehend with. The narrative is absolutely enthralling and highly inspired from the real voices of the everyday teenagers. The story is engaging from the very first page itself and I hate to say that my copy of this book is filled with yellow highlighted lines, as the author made the narrative so quotable. No the author does not dwell with the idea of insta-love like it happens these days, as the story is set in the 80s, hence the author stresses on the then culture of mixed tapes, calling on land-phones, wearing band T-shirts, and stuff like that and the author has pulled that really well into the story.The pacing is really fast as the story seizes the minds of the readers and tying their hearts into invisible bonds of connection with these two characters. The story is laced with deep, evocative emotions that it will make you feel like falling in love for the very first time. I hate to admit that when it comes to Rowell, she will use real-life flawed everyday kinda characters to create hers.Both Eleanor and Park are flawed yet honest and authentic and the author strikingly portrays their demeanor through this story and withing an instant into the story, the readers are bound to feel a connection with these two unforgettable characters. Eleanor tries to be brave and she does not let anyone get to her with the constant bullying an nasty remarks as she fights for herself on a daily basis due to her family. And thus Eleanor becomes an epitome for those girls who are subjected to bullying both at home and at their school. Park is the kind of guy for whom, if you had a million bucks, you would trade the money to get him. A very, sweet, adorable and a weird music/comic books lover who will make you fall for him at the very first instant.The love story between them is filled with emotions that are real and that will get through our hearts and will make the readers yearn for it. The compassion between them is spot on yet the author kept the love between them quite innocent and sweet. This book is bound to soften the stone-hearted humans and will make them feel deeply. Yes there is no doubt that I cried buckets over this story and at times I smiled and laughed out loud with their shared joys and jokes.And on this happy note, I must conclude by confessing that from this day on I shall never ever miss out single one of Rowell's novels that she has ever written or she will ever write. And I will urge everyone out there, be it young or old, to read this incredibly poignant yet compelling young adult love story.

"She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something."Two misfits.One extraordinary love.This book. I don't know what to say.Even though I am writing this review days after finishing the book, it still gets me emotional. And only Rainbow Rowell's books can do that. I never expected this simple story of two strangers to affect like this. I mean I don't have any words for this unusual book and its characters.Eleanor & Park doesn't talk to each other, and after reading this book you won't find it odd because their whole relationship starts with them sitting there on the bus and Eleanor trying to read Park's comics and him trying to share it with her and their songs playlists exchange and......well, I can go on forever because this book is just....too adorable, and sad :( Those cute exchange and small gestures still manages to make me smile! *Please don't pay attention to the number of 'and' I have used in this paragraph* lol“Holding Eleanor's hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive.”I love Eleanor's character in this book. And most importantly, I love how this book shows that looks doesn't matter when you actually love someone. Eleanor has red hair and is often bullied by other students for her looks and dressing style. But she doesn't pay attention to them, mostly because she is already dealing with so many issues of her own. She has to share her room with her four siblings, and has already gone through a lot in past because of family issues.Park is a really cool character. When he notices that Eleanor is trying to read his comics on the bus, next day he comes up with some extra comics so that she can read them. And after that they get into this routine of sharing comics and music, which then turns into a very special relationship. He's a very quite person and usually tries to stay away from any argument, but doesn't hesitate to stand up for the people he cares for.This might look like a light read, but it's not. It deals with many important and emotional issues like bullying, poverty, and violence. While I really enjoyed their love story, I really couldn't help but feel sad during those dark and emotional scenes. I was really surprised how despite these tragic moments, the author has portrayed love and friendship so beautifully. Some scenes very horrific and intense, but they were well balanced with the romance part of the book.And when everything was going like it was supposed to, that ending happened. I just can't stop thinking about it! And even though the ending was that bad or anything, but it wasn't what I had expected either! At the end, this book left me with a lot of mixed feelings. It's a must read for all Rainbow Rowell fans, and even for those who are curious about this cute love story of Eleanor & Park.